Hello!

My name is John P. Mills and I am a Lecturer in Sport Psychology and Coaching at the University of Essex in the UK. I achieved a PhD from the University of Birmingham in 2015 and a degree in Psychology and Childhood Studies from the University of Suffolk in 2011. I am a British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and member of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology. I am also an avid campaigner for changes in the academic publishing industry and in 2017, I founded SportRχiv: the World’s first open access subject repository for Sport, Exercise, Performance, and Health Research.

My research specialisms are leadership ethics and moral development, while my primary methodological expertise lies in the indirect assessment of bias (i.e., Implicit Social Cognition). My research currently focuses on how to best support coaches and sports organisations to develop their players both as athletes and people. However, I also conduct research that examines attitudes towards prohibited forms of performance enhancement, how biases affect the selection and recruitment of both athletes and coaches, and how identity influences behaviour.

The manuscripts generated through this support and my publications more broadly can be found here and a full list of my publications can be found at the bottom of this page. Some of the work I am proudest of can be found here (Development and initial validation of an indirect measure of transformational leadership integrity) and here (Advancing leadership in sport: Time to ‘actually’ take the blinkers off?). My work has also been featured by a range of media outlets including The Times, iNews, BBC News, BBC World Service, and ITV News. You can access my University of Essex profile here, which has access to more of my publications, teaching experience, and public engagement work.

Potential collaborators and PhD candidates looking to join either the research group I lead (i.e., Youth Development Through Sport at the University of Essex) or the Lab I Co-Founded with Dr Ian Boardley at the University of Birmingham (i.e., the Performance Enhancement Lab) can contact me here or on Twitter (@jpmillsphd). I am also happy to put potential PhD candidates in contact with my current/former postgraduate students so you can get an idea of how I work.

Outside of academia, I have worked for a range of Premier League and professional football clubs, sports organisations, charities, schools and colleges. During my ten plus years of working as an academy, community, and schools football coach, player development officer, multi-sports coach, and teaching assistant I have always followed the basic mantra that our role as coaches is to maximise the potential of our athletes in terms of their development both inside and outside of sport. I currently work with the players and coaching staff at three English Football League academies and one charity examining everything from talent identification, leadership in sport and coaching efficacy, through to character and life skill development. However, I would like to do more. I am passionate about improving the lives and opportunities of children, adolescents and young people, so if you work for an organisation that shares my mission — be it in sport or elsewhere — please get in touch. I often have resources available (e.g., access to money, students, or both) and if I believe I can support your organisation or project, I will do my utmost to find a way to make time to help.

@article{mills2018not,
title = {It is not Black and White: A comparison of skin tone by playing position in the Premier League and English football},
author = {John P Mills and Charles Ing and Tom Markham and Fergus Guppy},
url = {http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1747954117749747
http://repository.essex.ac.uk/20756/10/Examining%20the%20influence%20of%20skin%20tone%20on%20playing%20position%20in%20the%20Premier%20and%20English%20Football%20Leagues%20Final.pdf},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching},
volume = {13},
number = {3},
pages = {398-404},
publisher = {SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England},
abstract = {Within the present manuscript we explore the role of skin tone on playing position within English football’s top four professional leagues. Player data (n = 4515) was collected across five seasons (2010–2015). Unlike previous research, results indicate a statistically significant, but arguable minor difference between the skin tones of those who play in central as opposed to wide positions. However, a one-way ANOVA highlights significant differences between skin tone and individual playing positions. Between league differences were, however, non-significant. Although mean skin tone is still darker for peripheral (i.e., wide) positions, the situation is more nuanced than first thought. Instead of segregating players by central versus peripheral roles, it appears that players of a darker skin tone occupy positions associated with athleticism and strength. In contrast, players of a lighter skin tone appear to fulfil positions requiring organizational skills and creativity.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

Within the present manuscript we explore the role of skin tone on playing position within English football’s top four professional leagues. Player data (n = 4515) was collected across five seasons (2010–2015). Unlike previous research, results indicate a statistically significant, but arguable minor difference between the skin tones of those who play in central as opposed to wide positions. However, a one-way ANOVA highlights significant differences between skin tone and individual playing positions. Between league differences were, however, non-significant. Although mean skin tone is still darker for peripheral (i.e., wide) positions, the situation is more nuanced than first thought. Instead of segregating players by central versus peripheral roles, it appears that players of a darker skin tone occupy positions associated with athleticism and strength. In contrast, players of a lighter skin tone appear to fulfil positions requiring organizational skills and creativity.

Methods
Data were collected from male and female team- and individual-sport athletes and corporate- and bodybuilding-gym exercisers. Two samples (nsample 1 = 318; nsample 2 = 300) were utilized in instrument development and score validation and another (nsample 3 = 101) in examining test-retest reliability and stability of scores. Samples 1 and 2 responded to the newly developed items alongside others assessing theoretically-related variables, whereas Sample 3 completed the new instruments on two separate occasions.

Results
Factor analyses identified the final items and dimensional structures for the Doping Moral Disengagement Scale (DMDS), Doping Moral Disengagement Scale–Short (DMDS–S) and Doping Self-Regulatory Efficacy Scale (DSRES). The DMDS has six lower- and one higher-order factor, whereas the DMDS-S and DSRES are unidimensional. These structures were invariant by sex and sport/exercise context. Evidence supporting external validity, test-retest reliability, and stability of scores was also provided.

Conclusion
This research developed and provided evidence of score validity and internal consistency for three instruments relevant to doping in sport and exercise.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

Objectives
To develop Moral Disengagement (MD) and Self-Regulatory Efficacy (SRE) instruments relevant to doping in sport and exercise and provide evidence for the validity and reliability of instrument scores.

Design
Cross-sectional, correlational.

Methods
Data were collected from male and female team- and individual-sport athletes and corporate- and bodybuilding-gym exercisers. Two samples (nsample 1 = 318; nsample 2 = 300) were utilized in instrument development and score validation and another (nsample 3 = 101) in examining test-retest reliability and stability of scores. Samples 1 and 2 responded to the newly developed items alongside others assessing theoretically-related variables, whereas Sample 3 completed the new instruments on two separate occasions.

Results
Factor analyses identified the final items and dimensional structures for the Doping Moral Disengagement Scale (DMDS), Doping Moral Disengagement Scale–Short (DMDS–S) and Doping Self-Regulatory Efficacy Scale (DSRES). The DMDS has six lower- and one higher-order factor, whereas the DMDS-S and DSRES are unidimensional. These structures were invariant by sex and sport/exercise context. Evidence supporting external validity, test-retest reliability, and stability of scores was also provided.

Conclusion
This research developed and provided evidence of score validity and internal consistency for three instruments relevant to doping in sport and exercise.

@unpublished{ing2018,
title = {‘Why would you referee?’: An auto ethnographic account of a football official},
author = {Charles Ing and John P Mills},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/sportrxiv/n2ym7/},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
journal = {SportRχiv},
publisher = {SportRxiv},
abstract = {Adopting a creative yet novel autoethnographic approach, this study explores the experiences of the first author, a newly qualified footballing official. In doing so, the study provides a first person account to showcase the realities of refereeing whereby adding to a small pool of refereeing literature in the process. In providing an evocative account with a theoretical analysis, the research aims to both showcase and explain the demands associated with the position. Therefore, by constructing the said narratives in an easy to understand manner, the study looks to showcases the challenges associated with officiating to a broad audience. Whilst, the study gives a viable explanation to why many newly qualified referees drop out from the role, the study hopes to inform and subsequently aid aspiring officials in their ongoing development.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}

Adopting a creative yet novel autoethnographic approach, this study explores the experiences of the first author, a newly qualified footballing official. In doing so, the study provides a first person account to showcase the realities of refereeing whereby adding to a small pool of refereeing literature in the process. In providing an evocative account with a theoretical analysis, the research aims to both showcase and explain the demands associated with the position. Therefore, by constructing the said narratives in an easy to understand manner, the study looks to showcases the challenges associated with officiating to a broad audience. Whilst, the study gives a viable explanation to why many newly qualified referees drop out from the role, the study hopes to inform and subsequently aid aspiring officials in their ongoing development.

2017

@article{mills2017advancing,
title = {Advancing leadership in sport: Time to 'actually' take the blinkers off?},
author = {John P Mills and Ian D Boardley},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40279-016-0661-3
http://eprints.chi.ac.uk/2008/3/Advancing_leadership_in_sport__Time_to__actually__take_the_blinkers_off__Finalv2_clean.pdf
},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Sports Medicine},
volume = {47},
number = {3},
pages = {565--570},
publisher = {SpringerNature},
abstract = {In a recent article entitled Advancing Leadership in Sport: Time to Take off the Blinkers?’ published in Sports Medicine, Cruickshank and Collins presented what they deemed to be a critical analysis of extant leadership research in sport, attempting to establish a rationale for a greater emphasis on both the cognitive and ‘darker’ (i.e., socially undesirable) sides of leadership. The purpose of the present article is to challenge and clarify a number of misrepresentations in the arguments made in the foundation article, and to question some of the resultant recommendations made. Specifically, the present response will focus on Cruickshank and Collins’ (a) lack of specificity regarding the actual
‘dark’ traits they are apparently purporting to be effective leadership traits, (b) the dearth of theoretical and empirical support for their claims relating to the benefits of ‘dark’ leadership (c) misrepresentation of transformational leadership theory, (d) decision to ignore other relevant theoretical frameworks when presenting their arguments, and (e) apparent confirmation bias in the selective use of literature to support their arguments. Leadership research in sport may well benefit from new directions and methodological advancements and on this level we concur with the aims of Cruickshank and Collins’ article. However, we believe their misrepresentations and inappropriate recommendations do little to advance this area of research, and potentially serve to take it
backwards not forwards.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

In a recent article entitled Advancing Leadership in Sport: Time to Take off the Blinkers?’ published in Sports Medicine, Cruickshank and Collins presented what they deemed to be a critical analysis of extant leadership research in sport, attempting to establish a rationale for a greater emphasis on both the cognitive and ‘darker’ (i.e., socially undesirable) sides of leadership. The purpose of the present article is to challenge and clarify a number of misrepresentations in the arguments made in the foundation article, and to question some of the resultant recommendations made. Specifically, the present response will focus on Cruickshank and Collins’ (a) lack of specificity regarding the actual
‘dark’ traits they are apparently purporting to be effective leadership traits, (b) the dearth of theoretical and empirical support for their claims relating to the benefits of ‘dark’ leadership (c) misrepresentation of transformational leadership theory, (d) decision to ignore other relevant theoretical frameworks when presenting their arguments, and (e) apparent confirmation bias in the selective use of literature to support their arguments. Leadership research in sport may well benefit from new directions and methodological advancements and on this level we concur with the aims of Cruickshank and Collins’ article. However, we believe their misrepresentations and inappropriate recommendations do little to advance this area of research, and potentially serve to take it
backwards not forwards.

An indirect measure of transformational leadership integrity was developed across three studies. In Study 1, the transformational leadership integrity implicit association test (TLI-IAT) was developed and tested with 65 leaders across heterogeneous organizational contexts. Study 2 involved 51 coaches from 18 sports. Results from Studies 1 and 2 supported the construct validity of the instrument, providing evidence of the instrument's convergent and discriminant validity. Study 3 involved 32 coaches and 133 players from six sports. Findings supported the criterion validity of the measure, providing evidence for the instrument's predictive validity. In sum, evidence is presented that supports the TLI-IATs construct and criterion validity. As such, the present research has made significant advancements to the transformational leadership integrity literature and provides researchers with an indirect measure of automatic transformational leadership integrity self-attitudes.

@unpublished{mills2017managerial,
title = {When the Managerial Merry-go-round Stops: A Case Study of how Disconfirming Experiences Affect the Identities of Expert Football Managers},
author = {John P Mills},
url = {https://psyarxiv.com/hz4zb/download?format=pdf},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {PsyArXiv},
publisher = {PsyArXiv},
abstract = {Due to the highly competitive nature of top-level football (ie, top domestic league or international standard) expert football managers often undergo several disconfirming experiences throughout their careers (eg, job loss, public criticism, unsuccessful interviews or career moves). However, little is known about how such experiences impact identity. Therefore, the following case study aims explore the affect, if any, disconfirming experiences had on the identities and self-concept of three former top-level football managers. Narrative constructs reveal that during disconfirming episodes’ managers experience feelings of anger, a loss of self-respect, disappointment, and sadness. Further, they also report how confusion regarding their future career prospects leaves them in a state of identity limbo (ie, identity interference), whereby they were unsure as to how, when or if they should cease their commitment to a valued identity.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}

Due to the highly competitive nature of top-level football (ie, top domestic league or international standard) expert football managers often undergo several disconfirming experiences throughout their careers (eg, job loss, public criticism, unsuccessful interviews or career moves). However, little is known about how such experiences impact identity. Therefore, the following case study aims explore the affect, if any, disconfirming experiences had on the identities and self-concept of three former top-level football managers. Narrative constructs reveal that during disconfirming episodes’ managers experience feelings of anger, a loss of self-respect, disappointment, and sadness. Further, they also report how confusion regarding their future career prospects leaves them in a state of identity limbo (ie, identity interference), whereby they were unsure as to how, when or if they should cease their commitment to a valued identity.

Evidence associating doping behavior with moral disengagement (MD) has accumulated over recent years. However, to date, research examining links between MD and doping has not considered key theoretically grounded influences and outcomes of MD. As such, there is a need for quantitative research in relevant populations that purposefully examines the explanatory pathways through which MD is thought to operate. Toward this end, the current study examined a conceptually grounded model of doping behavior that incorporated empathy, doping self-regulatory efficacy (SRE), doping MD, anticipated guilt and self-reported doping/doping susceptibility. Participants were specifically recruited to represent four key physical-activity contexts and consisted of team- (n = 195) and individual- (n = 169) sport athletes and hardcore- (n = 125) and corporate- (n = 121) gym exercisers representing both genders (nmale = 371; nfemale = 239); self-reported lifetime prevalence of doping across the sample was 13.6%. Each participant completed questionnaires assessing the aforementioned variables. Structural equation modeling indicated strong support for all study hypotheses. Specifically, we established: (a) empathy and doping SRE negatively predicted reported doping; (b) the predictive effects of empathy and doping SRE on reported doping were mediated by doping MD and anticipated guilt; (c) doping MD positively predicted reported doping; (d) the predictive effects of doping MD on reported doping were partially mediated by anticipated guilt. Substituting self-reported doping for doping susceptibility, multisample analyses then demonstrated these predictive effects were largely invariant between males and females and across the four physical-activity contexts represented. These findings extend current knowledge on a number of levels, and in doing so aid our understanding of key psychosocial processes that may govern doping behavior across key physical-activity contexts.

The present study is the first to examine transformational leadership behaviours and integrity attitudes of expert, Premier League and International level football managers. To provide a rich, detailed exploration of the expert managers’ experiences, a qualitative approach was adopted utilising holistic content analysis. Constructed narratives revealed that the key behaviours demonstrated were inspirational messages or team talks (i.e. inspirational motivation), empathy (i.e. individualised consideration), introducing new training methods (i.e. intellectual stimulation), using exemplar players (i.e. appropriate role modelling), and goal setting (i.e. high performance expectations). However, the use and effect of such behaviours varied greatly between managers. Each of the managers also claimed to have been willing to “bend the rules” as a player and frequently used euphemistic labels to describe such behaviour. However, upon entering management, all three managers claimed to have adjusted such attitudes without providing an explanation for this.

@article{mills2015auto,
title = {An [AUTO] ethnographic account of constructing, deconstructing, and partially reconstructing a coaching identity},
author = {John P Mills},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2159676X.2015.1008804
},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-01},
journal = {Qualitative research in sport, exercise and health},
volume = {7},
number = {5},
pages = {606--619},
publisher = {Routledge},
abstract = {This reflective autoethnography illuminates the intricate mechanisms that impact identity construction and deconstruction. Set within the context of football coaching, the author draws upon lived experiences to show his struggle to establish and maintain an identity. By taking the unusual step of exposing his self-doubts and fears, it is the author’s hope that the article will offer comfort to other coaches (and young people in general) experiencing similar difficulties. Signposts are also offered, which direct the reader to the relevant identity literature. Finally, the narrative is evaluated and the benefits to the coaching and psychology communities are discussed.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

This reflective autoethnography illuminates the intricate mechanisms that impact identity construction and deconstruction. Set within the context of football coaching, the author draws upon lived experiences to show his struggle to establish and maintain an identity. By taking the unusual step of exposing his self-doubts and fears, it is the author’s hope that the article will offer comfort to other coaches (and young people in general) experiencing similar difficulties. Signposts are also offered, which direct the reader to the relevant identity literature. Finally, the narrative is evaluated and the benefits to the coaching and psychology communities are discussed.

@phdthesis{mills2015transformational,
title = {Transformational leader integrity: an investigation of coach social cognition},
author = {J P Mills},
url = {http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/6310/1/Mills15PhD_Redacted.pdf},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-01},
school = {University of Birmingham},
abstract = {The majority of psychological research investigating leader integrity has relied on self or other report methods as the primary means of data collection. While such an approach has advanced the literature, due to the theorised deceptive and manipulative nature of leaders lacking in integrity, prominent theorists (Barling, Christie and Turner, 2008) have called for alternative measures that are less prone to socially desirable responding. As no prior research had examined the integrity of sporting leaders, the present thesis began by examining the antecedent cognitive processes of expert football managers. Building upon this exploration, an implicit association test was developed within studies two and three. Results suggest that the instrument is capable of assessing automatic attitudes towards leader integrity, is more sensitive than existing measures, offers support for concurrent and convergent validity, demonstrates good test-retest reliability, good internal consistency, and is a predictor of player reported commitment. In sum, the present research has sought to understand the phenomena of leader integrity from the perspective of social cognition. The result of these investigations is a robust, sensitive, and complimentary measure of leader integrity, which will assist researchers to better understand the processes that underpin leader integrity.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {phdthesis}
}

The majority of psychological research investigating leader integrity has relied on self or other report methods as the primary means of data collection. While such an approach has advanced the literature, due to the theorised deceptive and manipulative nature of leaders lacking in integrity, prominent theorists (Barling, Christie and Turner, 2008) have called for alternative measures that are less prone to socially desirable responding. As no prior research had examined the integrity of sporting leaders, the present thesis began by examining the antecedent cognitive processes of expert football managers. Building upon this exploration, an implicit association test was developed within studies two and three. Results suggest that the instrument is capable of assessing automatic attitudes towards leader integrity, is more sensitive than existing measures, offers support for concurrent and convergent validity, demonstrates good test-retest reliability, good internal consistency, and is a predictor of player reported commitment. In sum, the present research has sought to understand the phenomena of leader integrity from the perspective of social cognition. The result of these investigations is a robust, sensitive, and complimentary measure of leader integrity, which will assist researchers to better understand the processes that underpin leader integrity.

SportRχiv Journal Club

The new semester is upon us already and although I had hoped to post this sooner, I’m behind schedule. Apologies — but you know how it is! Anyway, this year I will be starting a monthly SportRχiv Journal Club (or #SportRxivJC if you’re twitter savvy) with my Level 5 and Masters students. The aim of the Journal Club is to engage with and critically evaluate research. Nothing new there. However, what is new is that the Journal Club will be based solely on preprints. Furthermore, the feedback generated will be posted here and the authors sent a link to the comments.

Although the idea of a Journal Club is as old as the academe itself, the idea of students — potentially from across the globe — reviewing pre-peer reviewed work (or preprints) is not. Although Journal Clubs have fallen a bit out of favour within most of the institutions I have worked at recent years, I am hopeful that this new format will be more engaging for the following reasons:

By reviewing pre-published work the students will have the ability actually influence and (hopefully) improve the standard of research in our field. From prior discussions, this is one of the main reasons for disengagement in traditional Journal Clubs. Students feel like their comments are pointless as the horse has already bolted from the metaphorical stable.

2. It encourages a deeper level of engagement with research methods, which in many institutions, is sadly lacking.

3. Everyone can access preprints from home. It may be a minor point, but obstacles are obstacles. If you want students to engage in a task, reduce the hoops people have to jump through. Further, by basing the club on this format, we allow students from around the world to get involved and not just those privileged with wide reaching institutional journal subscriptions.

4. As the feedback has a more concrete value, I am hopeful that authors may take the time to video call into sessions to discuss the feedback generated too. We live in a largely connected world and through the power of the internet can connect interested students and academics to have in-depth debates over a piece of work.

5. It’s pretty cool to be part of an emerging movement. Students have always led the way in taking action where they see injustice and may see their respective Journal Club as more than just examining a research, they may feel connected to their peers and inspired to knockdown the paywalls that slow down the advancement of science. Okay, most won’t care, but a couple will and who knows what they may go on to achieve.

If you would like to get involved, all you need to do is drop me an email (john@sportrxiv.org) to gain access to this page, organise a time to run your club (if you’re like me, this will most likely be alongside or as part of your second year research methods module), nominate a student to organise which preprints the group/class will review and collate the comments (you can use the shared project’s public OSF wiki section or if that seems too technical, any form of cloud based doc would work), and post them here. By working together, I am hoping to make it easier for authors to reach the maximum number of students in the least amount of time and to create a central resource for comments that is community led.